[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 53 (Tuesday, March 19, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12512-12513]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6590]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Waivers Under Section 6(o) of the Food Stamp Act

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment 
on proposed information collections. Section 6(o) of the Food Stamp Act 
of 1977, as amended by Section 824 of the Personal Responsibility and 
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, establishes a time limit 
for the receipt of food stamp benefits for certain able-bodied adults 
who are not working. The provision authorizes the Secretary of 
Agriculture, upon a State agency's request, to waive the provision for 
any group of individuals if the Secretary determines ``that the area in 
which the individuals reside has an unemployment rate of over 10 
percent, or does not have a sufficient number of jobs to provide 
employment for the individuals.'' As required in the statute, in order 
to receive a waiver the State agency must submit sufficient supporting 
information so that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 
can make the required determination as to the area's unemployment rate 
or sufficiency of available jobs. This collection of information is 
therefore necessary in order to obtain waivers of the food stamp time 
limit.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before May 20, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection 
of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions 
of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to Patrick 
Waldron, Chief, Certification Policy Branch, Program Development 
Division, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be 
faxed to the attention of Mr. Waldron at (703) 305-2486. The Internet 
address is: [email protected]. All written comments will be 
open for public inspection at the office of the Food and Nutrition 
Service during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday) at 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, Virginia, 22302, 
Room 812.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will be a matter of public 
record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Mr. Waldron at (703) 305-2495.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Waiver Guidance for Food Stamp Time Limits.
    OMB Number: 0584-0479.
    Form Number: Not a form.
    Expiration Date: 2/28/02.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement with a change of a previously 
approved collection for which approval has expired.
    Abstract: Section 824 of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA), Pub. L.104-193, 110 
Stat. 2323 amended Section 6(o) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 
2015(o)) to establish a time limit for the receipt of food stamp 
benefits for certain able-bodied adults who are not working. The 
provision authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture, upon a State 
agency's request, to waive the provision for any group of individuals 
if the Secretary determines ``that the area in which the individuals 
reside has an unemployment rate of over 10 percent; or (ii) does not 
have a sufficient number of jobs to provide employment for the 
individuals.'' As

[[Page 12513]]

required in the statute, in order to receive a waiver the State agency 
must submit sufficient supporting information so that USDA can make the 
required determination as to the area's unemployment rate or 
sufficiency of available jobs. This collection of information is 
therefore necessary in order to obtain waivers of the food stamp time 
limit. During the last three years, the Food and Nutrition Service 
(FNS) has received on average 74 requests for waivers from an average 
of 40 State agencies. Each request submitted by a State agency to 
exempt individuals residing in specified areas is considered by FNS to 
be a separate request, since the requested exemptions may be based on 
different criteria, are submitted at different times, and require 
separate analysis. For the above reasons a significant number of State 
agencies may submit multiple requests. Since these waivers must be 
renewed on an annual basis and new ones may be submitted to reflect 
changing labor market conditions, FNS anticipates receipt of 
approximately the same number of waiver requests every year.
    Affected Public: State and Local governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 40.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 74.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.85.
    Estimated Time per Response: 20 hours.
    Estimated Total Burden: 1480 hours.

    Dated: March 4, 2002.
George Braley,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 02-6590 Filed 3-18-02; 8:45 am]
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